Communication terminal, communication system, communication method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A communication terminal receives, from a mobile terminal, counterpart terminal identification information for identifying a counterpart communication terminal that the communication terminal is to start communication, and determines a communication application to be used by the counterpart communication terminal based on the received counterpart terminal identification information. When the determined communication application is a first communication application, the communication terminal identifies, as the counterpart communication terminal, a first counterpart communication terminal that uses the first communication application. When the determined communication application is a second communication application, the communication terminal identifies, as the counterpart communication terminal, a second counterpart communication terminal that uses the second communication application. The communication terminal further transmits a communication start request to the identified counterpart communication terminal that uses the determined communication application, to start communication with the identified counterpart communication terminal through the determined communication application.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-109992, filed onMay 29, 2015, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to a communication terminal, acommunication system, a communication method, and a non-transitoryrecording medium storing a communication control program.

Description of the Related Art

With the increased need for reducing business trip costs and time inrecent years, videoconference systems are now widely used. Thevideoconference systems transmit or receive image data and audio dataamong a plurality of communication terminals such as videoconferenceterminals.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments include a communication terminal to communicate witha counterpart communication terminal. The communication terminalreceives, from a mobile terminal, counterpart terminal identificationinformation for identifying a counterpart communication terminal thatthe communication terminal is to start communication. The mobileterminal is a mobile terminal that has obtained the counterpart terminalidentification information from the counterpart communication terminal.The communication terminal further determines a communicationapplication to be used by the counterpart communication terminal incommunication with the communication terminal, based on the receivedcounterpart terminal identification information. When the determinedcommunication application is a first communication application, thecommunication terminal identifies, as the counterpart communicationterminal, a first counterpart communication terminal that uses the firstcommunication application. When the determined communication applicationis a second communication application, the communication terminalidentifies, as the counterpart communication terminal, a secondcounterpart communication terminal that uses the second communicationapplication. The communication terminal further transmits acommunication start request to the identified counterpart communicationterminal that uses the determined communication application, to startcommunication with the identified counterpart communication terminalthrough the determined communication application.

Example embodiments include a method performed by the communicationterminal as described above, and a control program for causing thecommunication terminal to perform the method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendantadvantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understoodfrom the following detailed description with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of a communicationsystem relating to videoconference communication, according to anexample embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a hardwareconfiguration of the communication terminal of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a hardwareconfiguration of a communication management system and a relay device ofthe communication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a hardwareconfiguration of an electronic whiteboard of the communication system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a hardwareconfiguration of a smart phone or a tablet of the communication systemof FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A is a schematic block diagram illustrating a softwareconfiguration of the communication terminal as the videoconferenceterminal according to the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6B is a schematic block diagram illustrating a softwareconfiguration of the communication terminal as the electronic whiteboardaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network configuration ofthe communication system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 8A and 8B (FIG. 8) are a schematic block diagram illustrating afunctional configuration of the communication system of FIG. 1 accordingto the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an example data structure of anauthentication management table;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an example data structure of a terminalmanagement table;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of an example data structure of a contactlist management table;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an example data structure of anear-distance communication circuit;

FIG. 13 is a data sequence diagram illustrating operation of providingterminal identification information, from the communication terminal ofthe communication system of FIG. 1 to the mobile terminal, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of an example screen for display in providingthe terminal identification information;

FIG. 15 is a data sequence diagram illustrating operation of providingterminal identification information, from the mobile terminal to thecommunication terminal of the communication system of FIG. 1, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating operation of identifying adestination according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a data sequence diagram illustrating operation ofestablishing a communication session between the communication terminalsas electronic whiteboards, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 18 is an illustration of an example input screen for authenticationinformation;

FIGS. 19A and 19B (FIG. 19) are a data sequence diagram illustratingoperation of preparing for communication between the communicationterminals of the communication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is an illustration of an example contact list screen; and

FIG. 21 is a data sequence diagram illustrating operation ofestablishing a communication session, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

The accompanying drawings are intended to depict example embodiments ofthe present invention and should not be interpreted to limit the scopethereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn toscale unless explicitly noted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentinvention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specifythe presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

In describing example embodiments shown in the drawings, specificterminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the presentdisclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology soselected and it is to be understood that each specific element includesall technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner. Referring tothe drawings, some embodiments of the present invention are described.

<Configuration of Communication System>

Referring to FIG. 1, a communication system 1 for carrying outvideoconference among a plurality of communication terminals (10, 70) isdescribed according to the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagramillustrating a portion of the communication system 1, which relates tovideoconference being carried out between the communication terminals 10and 70.

In the following, it is assumed that the communication system 1 managestransmission of content data to carry out videoconference among theterminals. Alternatively, the communication system 1 may managetransmission of content data to carry out casual conversation among theusers at different sites.

The communication system 1 includes the plurality of communicationterminals (10, 70), a relay device 30, and a communication managementsystem 50. The communication terminal transmits or receives image dataand audio data as an example of content data. In FIG. 1, thecommunication terminal may be implemented by a videoconference terminal10 in one example, or by en electronic whiteboard 70 in another example.The electronic whiteboard 70 is provided with a function of carrying outvideoconference. The image data may be a video image or a still image,or both of the video image and the still image.

In this disclosure, the communication terminal that sends a request forstarting videoconference is referred to as the “starting terminal”, andthe communication terminal serving as a request destination (relaydestination) of videoconference is referred to as the “counterpartterminal”. In FIG. 1, the communication terminal 70 operates as thestarting terminal, and the communication terminal 10 operates as thecounterpart terminal. Alternatively, when the communication terminal 10requests to start videoconference with the communication terminal 70,the communication terminal 10 operates as the starting terminal, and thecommunication terminal 70 operates as the counterpart terminal. Notethat the communication terminal may be used not only for communicationbetween different offices or for communication between different roomsin the same office, but also for communication within the same room orfor outdoor-indoor communication or outdoor-outdoor communication.

The relay device 30 relays content data among the plurality ofcommunication terminals 10 and 70. The communication management system50 centrally controls login authentication of the communicationterminal, management of the communication state of the communicationterminal, management of a contact list, and management of thecommunication state or the like of the relay device 30. The relaydevices 30 and the management system 50 in the above-describedembodiment may be configured by a single computer or a plurality ofcomputers to which divided portions (functions) are arbitrarilyallocated.

In the communication system 1, a management data session “sei” isestablished between the starting terminal 70 and the counterpartterminal 10 via the communication management system 50 to transmit orreceive various management data. Between the starting terminal 70 andthe counterpart terminal 10, four sessions are established via the relaydevice 30 to transmit or receive four items of data includinghigh-resolution image data, intermediate-resolution image data,low-resolution image data, and audio data. In FIG. 1, these foursessions are collectively referred to as image and audio data session“sed”. The image and audio data session “sed” may not always includefour sessions, but any number of sessions greater than or less thanfour.

Now, resolution of image data to be processed in this embodiment isdescribed. The low-resolution image data serves as a base image and hashorizontal 160 pixels by vertical 120 pixels. Theintermediate-resolution image data has horizontal 320 pixels by vertical240 pixels. The high-resolution image data has horizontal 640 pixels byvertical 480 pixels. In the case of a narrow band path, low-qualityimage data that only includes low-resolution image data serving as abase image is relayed. In the case of a relatively wide band path,intermediate-quality image data including low-resolution image dataserving as a base image and intermediate-resolution image data isrelayed. In the case of a very wide band path, high-quality image dataincluding low-resolution image data serving as a base image,intermediate-resolution image data, and high-resolution image data isrelayed. Since audio data is relatively small in data size, the audiodata is relayed even in the case of a narrow band path.

<Hardware Configuration of Communication System>

Now, a hardware configuration of the communication system 1 isdescribed.

<Hardware Configuration of Communication Terminal>

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a hardwareconfiguration of the communication terminal 10. As illustrated in FIG.2, the videoconference terminal as an example of the communicationterminal includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a read onlymemory (ROM) 102, a random access memory (RAM) 103, a flash memory 104,a solid state drive (SSD) 105, a medium interface (I/F) 107, anoperation key 108, a power switch 109, a bus line 110, a network I/F111, a camera 112, an imaging device 1/F 113, a microphone 114, aspeaker 115, an audio input/output I/F 116, a display I/F 117, anexternal device connection I/F 118, a near-distance communicationcircuit 119, and an antenna 119 a for the near-distance communicationcircuit 119. The CPU 101 controls entire operation of the communicationterminal 10. The ROM 102 stores a control program for operating the CPU101 such as an Initial Program Loader (IPL). The RAM 103 is used as awork area for the CPU 101. The flash memory 104 stores various data suchas a communication control program, image data, and audio data. The SSD105 controls reading or writing of various data to or from the flashmemory 105 under control of the CPU 101. In alternative to the SSD, ahard disk drive (HDD) may be used. The medium I/F 107 controls readingor writing of data with respect to a recording medium 106 such as aflash memory. The operation key 108 is operated by a user to input auser instruction such as a user selection of a destination of thecommunication terminal 10. The power switch 109 turns on or off thepower of the communication terminal 10.

The network I/F 111 allows communication of data with an external devicethrough a communication network 4 such as the Internet. The camera 112is an example of imaging device capable of capturing a subject undercontrol of the CPU 101, and may be incorporated in the communicationterminal. The imaging element device 1/F 113 is a circuit that controlsdriving of the camera 112. The microphone 114 is an example of audiocollecting device capable of inputting audio under control of the CPU101, and may be incorporated in the communication terminal. The audioI/O I/F 116 is a circuit for inputting or outputting an audio signalbetween the microphone 114 and the speaker 115 under control of the CPU101. The display I/F 117 is a circuit for transmitting image data to theexternal display 120 under control of the CPU 101. The external deviceconnection I/F 118 is an interface circuit that connects the terminal 10to various external devices. The near-distance communication circuit 119is a communication circuit in compliance with a near-field communication(NFC; Registered Trademark) or Bluetooth (Registered Trademark).

The bus line 110 may be an address bus or a data bus, which electricallyconnects various elements such as the CPU 101 of FIG. 2.

The display 120 may be a liquid crystal or organic electroluminescence(EL) display that displays an image of a subject, an operation icon, orthe like. The display 120 is connected to the display I/F 117 by thecable 120 c. The cable 120 c may be an analog red green blue (RGB)(video graphic array (VGA)) signal cable, a component video cable, ahigh-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) signal cable, or a digitalvideo interactive (DVI) signal cable.

The camera 112 includes a lens and a solid-state imaging element thatconverts an image (video) of a subject to electronic data by convertinglight to electric charge. As the solid-state imaging element, forexample, a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) or acharge-coupled device (CCD) is used. The external device connection I/F118 is capable of connecting an external device such as an externalcamera, an external microphone, or an external speaker through aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) cable or the like. In the case where anexternal camera is connected, the external camera is driven inpreference to the built-in camera 112 under control of the CPU 101.Similarly, in the case where an external microphone is connected or anexternal speaker is connected, the external microphone or the externalspeaker is driven in preference to the built-in microphone 114 or thebuilt-in speaker 115 under control of the CPU 101.

The recording medium 106 is removable from the communication terminal10. In addition, a non-volatile memory that reads or writes data undercontrol of the CPU 101 is not limited to the flash memory 104, and anelectrically erasable and programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) may beused instead.

<Hardware Configuration of Communication Management System and RelayDevice>

Referring to FIG. 3, a hardware configuration of the communicationmanagement system 50 and the relay device 30 is described according toan embodiment of the present invention. The communication managementsystem 50, which may be implemented by a server computer, includes acentral processing unit (CPU) 501, a read only memory (ROM) 502, arandom access memory (RAM) 503, a hard disk (HD) 504, a hard disk drive(HDD) 505, a recording medium 506, a medium I/F 507, a display 508, anetwork I/F 509, a keyboard 511, a mouse 512, a CD-ROM drive 514, and abus line 510.

The CPU 510 controls entire operation of the communication managementsystem 50. The ROM 502 stores a control program for controlling the CPU501 such as an IPL. The RAM 503 is used as a work area for the CPU 501.The HD 504 stores various data such as the communication managementprogram. The HDD 505 controls reading or writing of various data to orfrom the HDD 504 under control of the CPU 501. The medium I/F 507controls reading or writing of data with respect to a recording medium506 such as a flash memory. The display 508 displays various informationsuch as a cursor, menu, window, characters, or image. The network I/F509 allows communication of data with an external device through thesecond communication network 4 such as the Internet. The keyboard 511 isone example of input device provided with a plurality of keys forallowing a user to input characters, numerals, or various instructions.The mouse 512 is one example of input device for allowing the user toselect a specific instruction or execution, select a target forprocessing, or move a curser being displayed. The CD-ROM drive 514 readsor writes various data with respect to a CD-ROM 513, which is oneexample of removable recording medium.

The bus line 510 may be an address bus or a data bus, which electricallyconnects various elements such as the CPU 501 of FIG. 3.

Since the relay device 30 in FIG. 1 is substantially similar in hardwareconfiguration to the communication management system 50, the descriptionthereof is omitted. The relay device 30, however, stores a relay controlprogram in the HD 504 in alternative to the management program.

<Hardware Configuration of Electronic Whiteboard>

FIG. 4 illustrates a hardware configuration of the communicationterminal 70, when implemented by the electronic whiteboard, according tothe embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the electronic whiteboard 70,as an example of communication terminal 70, includes a CPU 701, a ROM702, a RAM 703, a SSD 704, a network controller 705, and an externaldevice connection I/F 706, which are connected through the bus line 710.

The CPU 701 controls entire operation of the electronic whiteboard 70.The ROM 702 stores a control program for controlling the CPU 701 such asan IPL. The RAM 503 is used as a work area for the CPU 701. The SSD 704stores various data such as the control program for the electronicwhiteboard 70. The network controller 705 controls communication with anexternal device through the communication network 2 or 4. The externaldevice controller 706 controls communication with an external devicesuch as a USB memory 755, and external devices such as a camera 762, aspeaker 765, a microphone 764, etc.

The electronic whiteboard 70 further includes a capturing device 711, agraphics processing unit (GPU) 71, a display controller 713, a sensorcontroller 714, a contact sensor 715, an electronic pen controller 716,a near-distance communication circuit 719, and an antenna 719 a for thenear-distance communication circuit 719.

The capturing device 711 causes a display of a notebook PC 756 todisplay a video image or a still image based on image data that iscaptured by the capturing device 711. In this way, the image beingdisplayed on the display 753 of the electronic whiteboard 70 can beshared with the external display. The GPU 712 is a semiconductor chipdedicated to processing a graphical image. The display controller 713controls display of an image processed at the GPU 712 for output througha display 753 provided with the electronic whiteboard 70. The contactsensor 715 detects a touch onto the display 753 with an electronic pen754 or a user's hand H. The sensor controller 714 controls operation ofthe contact sensor 715. The contact sensor 715 senses a touch input to aspecific coordinate on the display 735 using the infrared blockingsystem. More specifically, the display 753 is provided with two lightreceiving elements disposed on both upper side ends of the display 753,and a reflector frame. The light receiving elements emit a plurality ofinfrared rays in parallel to a touch panel of the display 753. The lightreceiving elements receive lights passing in the direction that is thesame as an optical path of the emitted infrared rays, which arereflected by the reflector frame. The contact sensor 715 outputs anidentifier (ID) of the infrared ray that is blocked by an object (suchas the user's hand) after being emitted from the light receivingelements, to the sensor controller 714. Based on the ID of the infraredray, the sensor controller 715 detects a specific coordinate that istouched. The electronic pen controller 716 communicates with theelectronic pen 754 to detect a touch by the tip or bottom of the pen 754to the display 753. The near-distance communication circuit 719 is acommunication circuit that communicates in compliance with the NFC(Registered Trademark), the Bluetooth (Registered Trademark), and thelike.

The bus line 710 is an address bus or a data bus, which electricallyconnects the elements in FIG. 4 such as the CPU 701.

The contact sensor 715 is not limited to the infrared blocking systemtype, and may be a different type of detector, such as a capacitancetouch panel that identifies the contact position by detecting a changein capacitance, a resistance film touch panel that identifies thecontact position by detecting a change in voltage of two opposedresistance films, or an electromagnetic induction touch panel thatidentifies the contact position by detecting electromagnetic inductioncaused by contact of an object to a display. In addition or inalternative to detecting a touch by the tip or bottom of the pen 754,the electronic pen controller 716 may also detect a touch by anotherpart of the electronic pen 754, such as a part held by a hand.

<Hardware Configuration of Smart Phone>

FIG. 5 illustrates a hardware configuration of a smart phone, accordingto the embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5,the communication terminal 90, which may be implemented by a smartphone, includes a CPU 901, a ROM 902, a RAM 903, an ElectricallyErasable and Programmable ROM (EEPROM) 904, a Complementary Metal OxideSemiconductor (CMOS) sensor 905, an acceleration and orientation sensor906, a medium I/F 908, and a GPS receiver 909, which are connectedthrough a bus line 910.

The CPU 901 controls entire operation of the smart phone 90. The ROM 902stores a control program for controlling the CPU 901 such as an IPL. TheRAM 903 is used as a work area for the CPU 901. The EEPROM 904 reads orwrites various data such as a communication terminal control programunder control of the CPU 901. The CMOS sensor 905 captures an objectunder control of the CPU 901 to obtain captured image data. Theacceleration and orientation sensor 906 includes various sensors such asan electromagnetic compass or gyrocompass for detecting geomagnetism andan acceleration sensor. The medium I/F 908 controls reading or writingof data with respect to a recording medium 907 such as a flash memory.The GPS receiver 909 receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite.

The communication terminal 90 further includes a far-distancecommunication circuit 911, a camera 912, an imaging element I/F 913, amicrophone 914, a speaker 915, an audio input/output I/F 918, a display917, an external device connection I/F 918, a near-distancecommunication circuit 919, an antenna 919 a for the near-distancecommunication circuit 919, and a touch panel 921.

The far-distance communication circuit 911 is a circuit thatcommunicates with the other device through a mobile communicationnetwork. The camera 912 is an example of imaging device capable ofcapturing a subject under control of the CPU 901, and is incorporated inthe communication terminal 90, which is the smart phone. The imagingelement device 1/F 913 is a circuit that controls driving of the camera912. The microphone 914 is an example of audio collecting device capableof inputting audio under control of the CPU 901, and is incorporated inthe communication terminal 90. The audio I/O I/F 916 is a circuit forinputting or outputting an audio signal between the microphone 914 andthe speaker 915 under control of the CPU 901. The display 915 may be aliquid crystal or organic electro luminescence (EL) display thatdisplays an image of a subject, an operation icon, or the like. Theexternal device connection I/F 918 is an interface circuit that connectsthe terminal 90 to various external devices. The near-distancecommunication circuit 919 is a communication circuit that communicatesin compliance with the NFC (Registered Trademark), the Bluetooth(Registered Trademark), and the like. The touch panel 921 is an exampleof input device that enables the user to input a user instructionthrough touching a screen of the display 917.

The bus line 910 is an address bus or a data bus, which electricallyconnects the elements in FIG. 5 such as the CPU 901.

The communication terminal 90 may be implemented by a tablet, a smartwatch, portable phone, or portable game machine.

Further, the control program may be recorded in a file in a formatinstallable or executable on a computer-readable recording medium suchas the recording medium 907 for distribution. Examples of the recordingmedium include, but not limited to, Compact Disc Recordable (CD-R),Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), blue-ray disc, and SD card.

<Software Configuration of Communication Terminal>

FIG. 6A illustrates a software configuration of the communicationterminal 10 as the videoconference terminal according to the embodimentof the invention. As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the communication terminal10 is installed with operating system (OS) 1020 and communicationapplication A2, which may be deployed on a working area 1020 of the RAM103. The OS 1020 is basic software that controls entire operation of thevideoconference terminal 10 through providing basic functions.

The communication application A2 allows the communication terminal 10 tocommunicate with the other communication terminal. In this embodiment,the communication application A2 allows the communication terminal 10 tocarry out video communication such as videoconference.

FIG. 6B illustrates a software configuration of the communicationterminal 70 as the electronic whiteboard according to the embodiment ofthe invention. As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the communication terminal 70is installed with communication application A1 and the communicationapplication A2, which may be deployed on a working area 7010 of the RAM703.

The OS 7020 is basic software that controls entire operation of theelectronic whiteboard 70 through providing basic functions. Thecommunication application A1 is communication application to be used byelectronic whiteboards in communicating with the other communicationterminal, such as communication application dedicated to the electronicwhiteboards. The communication application A2 is communicationapplication that enables video communication such as videoconferencing,as described above for the case of the communication application A2installed onto the communication terminal 10. In this disclosure, onlytwo types of communication applications A1 and A2 will be described forsimplicity, however, more than two communication applications may beused to carry out videoconference among a plurality of communicationterminals.

The OS 1020 and the communication application A2 are installed onto thevideoconference terminal 10 before shipment. The OS 7020, thecommunication application A1, and the communication application A2 areinstalled onto the electronic whiteboard 70 before shipment.

Alternatively, any type of communication application may be added ordeleted to or from the communication terminal (10, 70), for example,when software installed on the communication terminal is updated. Morespecifically, after being shipped to the user, the communicationterminal (10, 70) may access the communication management system 50 orany other server to download the upgraded version of, or new, software.Further, the communication terminal (10, 70) may replace the existingsoftware with the new version, or upgraded version, of software (controlprogram) being downloaded. When updating software, the communicationapplication installed onto the communication terminal (10, 70) may beupgraded, or replaced with a new version.

<Configuration of Communication System>

Referring now to FIG. 7, a configuration of the communication system 1is described according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagramillustrating a network configuration of the communication system 1 ofFIG. 1.

In FIG. 7, the communication terminals 70 a and 70 d are examples of theelectronic whiteboard 70 described above referring to FIG. 4. The mobileterminals 90 a and 90 b are examples of the mobile terminal 90 describedabove referring to FIG. 5.

The communication terminal (electronic whiteboard) 70 a and thecommunication terminal (electronic whiteboard) 70 d are connected to aclosed communication network 2 such as the Intranet. Since this isclosed, the communication network 2 is more secure. The communicationterminal (videoconference terminal) 10 is connected to an opencommunication network 4 such as the Internet. The communication network4 tends to be insecure, at least compared to the communication network2. In order to improve security, in this embodiment, a firewall isprovided on the communication network 4. In this disclosure, thecommunication network 2 may be referred to as a first communicationnetwork 2, and the communication network 4 may be referred to as asecond communication network 4. The first and second communicationnetworks 2 and 4 may each include a wireless network.

The communication terminal 70 a is provided at site A. The communicationterminals 10 and 70 d are provided at site D. For example, the site Amay be Japan, and the site B may be England. FIG. 7 illustrates a casein which a user X who usually works at site D and has the mobileterminal 90 a, travels to site A. The user X at site A operates thecommunication terminal 70 d to start communication with thecommunication terminal 10 or 70 d, to start videoconference with a userY at site D.

<Functional Configuration of Communication System>

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5 and 8, a functional configuration of thecommunication system is described according to the embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram illustrating afunctional configuration of the communication system 1 of FIG. 1according to the embodiment of the present invention.

<Functional Configuration of Communication Terminal>

The communication terminal 10 includes a transmitter/receiver 11, anacceptor 12, a communication control 13, a display control 14, adeterminer 15, an obtainer/provider 18, and a memory control 19. Theseunits are functions that are implemented by or that are caused tofunction by operating any of the hardware components illustrated in FIG.2 in cooperation with the instructions of the CPU 101 according to thecommunication control program expanded from the flash memory 104 to theRAM 103. The communication terminal 10 further includes a memory 1000configured by the RAM 103 illustrated in FIG. 2, and the flash memory104 illustrated in FIG. 2. The communication terminal 10 may be providedwith a recording medium 1100 that is removable, which may be implementedby the medium 106 of FIG. 2.

The transmitter/receiver 11, which may be implemented by theinstructions of the CPU 101, the network I/F 111, and the externaldevice connection I/F 118, illustrated in FIG. 2, transmits or receivesvarious data (or information) to or from the other terminal, apparatus,or system through the communication network 4. Before startingcommunication with a counterpart terminal, the transmitter/receiver 11starts receiving terminal state information indicating an operatingstate of each communication terminal as a candidate counterpartterminal, from the communication management system 50. The stateinformation not only indicates the operating state of each communicationterminal (whether the communication terminal is online or offline), butalso indicates a detailed state such as whether the communicationterminal whose state is online is now capable of communicating or iscurrently communicating, or the user of the communication terminal isnot at the communication terminal. Hereinafter, the case in which thestate information indicates the operating state will be described by wayof example.

The transmitter/receiver 11 further controls processing to startcommunication between the communication terminal 10 and a counterpartcommunication terminal such as the communication terminal 70.

The acceptor 12, which is implemented by the instructions of the CPU 101illustrated in FIG. 2 and by the operation key 108 and the power switch109 illustrated in FIG. 2, accepts various inputs from the user.

The communication control 13 is implemented by the instructions of theCPU 101, and any desired device relating to input or output of contentdata. In one example, the communication control 13 is implemented by theinstructions of the CPU 101 illustrated in FIG. 2 and by the camera 112and the imaging element I/F 113 illustrated in FIG. 2. The communicationcontrol 13 captures an image of a subject and outputs image dataobtained by capturing the image. In one example, the communicationcontrol 13 is implemented by the instructions of the CPU 101 illustratedin FIG. 2 and by the audio input/output I/F 116 illustrated in FIG. 2.After the sound of the user is converted to an audio signal by themicrophone 114, the communication control 13 receives audio dataaccording to this audio signal. In another example, the communicationcontrol 13 is implemented by the instructions of the CPU 101 illustratedin FIG. 2 and by the audio input/output I/F 116 illustrated in FIG. 2,and outputs the audio signal according to the audio data to the speaker115, and the speaker 115 outputs audio.

The display control 14 is implemented by the instructions of the CPU 101illustrated in FIG. 2 and by the display I/F 117 illustrated in FIG. 2.The display control 14 combines images of different resolutions andtransmits the combined image to the display 120. The display control 14also transmits information on a contact list, received from themanagement system 50, to the display 120, and controls display of thecontact list on the display 120.

The determiner 15, which may be implemented by the instructions of theCPU 101 illustrated in FIG. 2, determines whether any communicationterminal, such as the mobile terminal, is located within a predetermineddistance from the communication terminal 10.

The obtainer/provider 18, which may be implemented by the instructionsof the CPU 101, and the near-distance communication circuit 119 with theantenna 119 a, illustrated in FIG. 2, communicates with the counterpartcommunication terminal such as the mobile terminal 90 (90 a, 90 d) totransmit (provide) data or receive (obtain) data to or from thecounterpart communication terminal.

The memory control 19, which is implemented by the instructions of theCPU 101 and the SSD 105 illustrated in FIG. 2, or by the instructions ofthe CPU 101, performs processing to store various types of data in thememory 1000 or the recording medium 1100 or to read various types ofdata stored in the memory 1000 or the recording medium 1100. Further,every time image data and audio data are received in performingcommunication with a counterpart terminal, the memory 1000 overwritesthe image data and audio data. The display 120 displays an image basedon image data before being overwritten, and the speaker 115 outputsaudio based on audio data before being overwritten.

Note that a terminal ID in the embodiment is an example ofidentification information that is used to uniquely identify a specificcommunication terminal 10, such that a language, a character(s), asymbol(s), or various marks are not limited to the above-describedembodiment. For example, a combination of at least two of theabove-mentioned language, character(s), symbol(s), and various marks maybe used as a terminal ID. Instead of a terminal ID, a user ID foridentifying the user at the terminal 10 may be used. In such case,terminal identification information includes not only the terminal ID,but also the user ID. Further, the user ID may include a name of theuser, the individual number that uniquely assigns each user such as asocial security number, etc.

<Functional Configuration of Relay Device>

The relay device 30 includes a transmitter/receiver 31, a determiner 32,and a memory control 39. These units are functions that are implementedby or that are caused to function by operating any of the elementsillustrated in FIG. 3 in cooperation with the instructions of the CPU501 according to the relay device control program expanded from the HD504 to the RAM 503. The relay device 30 also includes a memory 3000implemented by the RAM 504 illustrated in FIG. 3 and/or the HD 504illustrated in FIG. 3.

(Functional Configuration of Relay Device)

Next, a functional configuration of the relay device 30 is described indetail. In the following description of functional configuration of therelay device 30, relationships of the hardware elements in FIG. 3 withthe functional configuration of the relay device 30 in FIG. 8 will alsobe described.

The transmitter/receiver 31 of the relay device 30 illustrated in FIG.8, which is implemented by the instructions of the CPU 501 illustratedin FIG. 3 and by the network I/F 509 illustrated in FIG. 3, transmits orreceives various types of data (or information) to or from anotherterminal, device, or system via the communication network 4. Thetransmitter/receiver 31 also serves as a transferer, which transferscontent data transmitted from one communication terminal (such as thecommunication terminal 10) to another communication terminal (such asthe communication terminal 70).

The determiner 32, which may be implemented by the instructions of theCPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 3, determines delay of data transmission.

The memory control 39, which may be implemented by the instructions ofthe CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 3 and the HDD 505 illustrated in FIG. 3,performs processing to store various types of data in the memory 3000 orread various types of data stored in the memory 3000.

<Functional Configuration of Management System>

The communication management system 50 includes a transmitter/receiver51, a determiner 52, and a memory control 59. These units are functionsthat are implemented by or that are caused to function by operating anyof the elements illustrated in FIG. 8 in cooperation with theinstructions of the CPU 501 according to the communication managementprogram expanded from the HD 504 to the RAM 503. In addition, thecommunication management system 50 includes a memory 5000 implemented bythe HD 504 illustrated in FIG. 3.

(Authentication Management Table)

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an example data structure of anauthentication management table. The memory 5000 stores anauthentication management DB 5001 such as the authentication managementtable illustrated in FIG. 9. The authentication management table stores,for each one of the terminals (10, 70) managed by the communicationmanagement system 50, the terminal ID and the password in associationwith each other. For example, the authentication management tableillustrated in FIG. 9 indicates that the terminal ID of the terminal 10aa is “01 aa”, and the password of the terminal 10 aa is “aaaa”.

(Terminal Management Table)

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an example data structure of a terminalmanagement table. The memory 5000 stores a terminal management DB 5002such as the terminal management table illustrated in FIG. 10. Theterminal management table stores, for each one of the terminals (such asthe communication terminals 10 and 70) managed by the communicationmanagement system 50, the terminal ID of the terminal, a counterpartterminal name in the case where the terminal serves as a counterpartterminal, the operating state of the terminal, a date/time received atwhich login request information described later is received at thecommunication management system 50, and the IP address of the terminal,in association with one another. For example, the terminal managementtable illustrated in FIG. 10 indicates that the terminal 10 aa with theterminal ID “01 aa” has the counterpart terminal name “AA terminal,Tokyo office, Japan”, the operating state “online (communication OK)”,the date/time received at which login request information is received bythe communication management system 50 “April 10, 2015, 13:40”, and theIP address “1.2.1.3”. The terminal ID, the terminal (counterpart) name,and the terminal IP address in the terminal management table of FIG. 10is registered by the communication management system 50, when thecommunication management system 50 accepts registration of eachcommunication terminal (10, 70) that requests services from thecommunication management system 50.

(Contact List Management Table)

FIG. 11 is an illustration of an example data structure of a contactlist management table. The memory 5000 further stores a contact listmanagement DB 5003 implemented by the contact list management tableillustrated in FIG. 11. The contact list management table stores, foreach one of the terminals managed by the communication management system50, the terminal ID of the terminal (starting terminal) that requests tostart communication, in association with the terminal IDs of allcounterpart terminals registered as candidate counterpart terminals forthe starting terminal. For example, the contact list management tableillustrated in FIG. 11 indicates that candidates for a counterpartterminal to which a starting terminal (terminal 10 aa) whose terminal IDis “01 aa” can send a request to start communication in avideoconference are the terminal 10 ab whose terminal ID is “01 ab”, theterminal 10 ba whose terminal ID is “01 ba”, the terminal 70 bb whoseterminal ID is “07 bb”, and so forth. Note that the terminal 70 bb isone example of the communication terminal 70, as the electronicwhiteboard 70 in FIG. 6. The candidate counterpart terminals are updatedby addition or deletion in response to an addition or deletion requestreceived from an arbitrary terminal (starting terminal) to thecommunication management system 50.

The contact list is just one example of contact information indicating acandidate of counterpart communication terminals, such that the contactinformation may be managed in various ways other than in the form ofcontact list, as long as the counterpart terminal information isassociated with the starting terminal.

(Functional Configuration of Management System)

Next, referring back to FIG. 7, a functional configuration of thecommunication management system 50 will be described in detail. In thefollowing description of the functional configuration of thecommunication management system 50, relationships of the hardwareconfiguration of FIG. 3 with functional configuration of the managementsystem 50 in FIG. 8 will also be described.

The transmitter/receiver 51, which is implemented by the instructions ofthe CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 3 and by the network I/F 509 illustratedin FIG. 3, transmits or receives various types of data (or information)to or from another terminal, device, or system via the secondcommunication network 4.

The determiner 15, which may be implemented by the instructions of theCPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 3, outputs a determination result.

The memory control 59, which may be implemented by the instructions ofthe CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 3 and the HDD 505 illustrated in FIG. 3,performs processing to store various types of data in the memory 5000 orread various types of data stored in the memory 5000.

<Functional Configuration of Communication Terminal>

Since the communication terminal 70 a and the communication terminal 70d are substantially similar in functional configuration, the functionalconfiguration of the communication terminal 70 a is described as anexample while omitting explanation of the communication terminal 70 d.

<Functional Configuration of Communication Terminal>The communicationterminal 70 d includes a transmitter/receiver 71 a, an acceptor 72 a, acommunication control 73 a, a display control 74 a, a determiner 75 a, aselector 76 a, an activator 77 a, an obtainer/provider 78 a, and amemory control 79 a.

These units are functions that are implemented by or that are caused tofunction by operating any of the elements illustrated in FIG. 4 incooperation with the instructions of the CPU 701 according to thecommunication control program expanded from the SSD 704 to the RAM 703.The communication terminal 70 a further includes a memory 7000 aconfigured by the RAM 703 illustrated in FIG. 4, and the SSD 704illustrated in FIG. 4. The communication terminal 70 a may be providedwith a recording medium 7100 a that is removable.

The transmitter/receiver 71 a, which may be implemented by theinstructions of the CPU 701, the network controller 705, and theexternal device connection I/F 706, illustrated in FIG. 4, transmits orreceives various data (or information) to or from the other terminal,apparatus, or system through the communication network 2 or 4. Beforestarting communication with a counterpart terminal, thetransmitter/receiver 71 a starts receiving terminal state informationindicating an operating state of each communication terminal (10, 70) asa candidate counterpart terminal, from the communication managementsystem 50. The state information not only indicates the operating stateof each communication terminal 10 or 70 (whether the communicationterminal is online or offline), but also indicates a detailed state suchas whether the communication terminal 10 or 70 whose state is online isnow capable of communicating or is currently communicating, or the userof the communication terminal 10 or 70 is not at the communicationterminal. In addition, the state information not only indicates theoperating state of each terminal, but also indicates various states,such as the state that the cable 120 c is disconnected from the terminal10, the state that the terminal 10 or 70 can output sounds but notimages, or the state that the terminal 10 or 70 is muted. Hereinafter,the case in which the state information indicates the operating statewill be described by way of example.

The transmitter/receiver 71 a further controls processing to startcommunication with the other communication terminal such as thecounterpart communication terminal 10. The transmitter/receiver 71 aalso functions as a generator to generate authentication informationsuch as a pass code.

The acceptor 72 a, which is implemented by the instructions of the CPU701, the contact sensor 715, and the electronic pen controller 716,illustrated in FIG. 4, accepts various inputs from the user.

The communication control 73 a is implemented by the instructions of theCPU 701, in cooperation with any desired device relating to input oroutput of content data. In one example, the communication control 13applies image processing to an image captured by the camera 762. Inanother example, the communication control 73 a, after the audio of theuser is converted to an audio signal by the microphone 764, thecommunication control 13 processes audio data based on this audiosignal. In another example, the communication control 73 a outputs theaudio signal according to the audio data to the speaker 765, and thespeaker 765 outputs audio.

In another example, the communication control 73 a obtains drawing data,drawn by the user with the electronic pen 754 or the user's hand H ontothe display 753, and converts the drawing data to coordinate data.Further, when the communication terminal 70 a transmits the coordinatedata to the other communication terminal 70 d, for example, the othercommunication terminal 70 d causes the display 753 to display drawingdata based on the coordinate data received from the communicationterminal 70 a.

The display control 74 a is implemented by the instructions of the CPU701 illustrated in FIG. 4 and by the display controller 713 illustratedin FIG. 4. The display control 74 combines images of differentresolutions and transmits the combined image to the display 753. Thedisplay control 74 a also transmits information on a contact list,received from the communication management system 50, to the display753, and controls display of the contact list on the display 753.

The determiner 75 a, which may be implemented by the instructions of theCPU 701 illustrated in FIG. 4, determines whether any communicationterminal, such as the mobile terminal 90, is within a predetermineddistance from the communication terminal 70 a. The determiner 75 afurther determines a type of terminal identification information asdescribed below.

For example, if a description format of the terminal identificationinformation indicates 32-bit numerals with four sets of 8-bit numerals(in case of IPv4), the determiner 75 a determines that the terminalidentification information is a terminal IP address.

In another example, the determiner 75 a analyzes a description format ofthe terminal identification information to determine whether it is asequence of characters and/or marks, and if so, determines that theterminal identification information is a terminal ID.

In case the terminal identification information has another type, suchas an email address, the determiner 75 a determines whether the terminalidentification information is expressed as a string of characters asdefined by RFC2822. That is, the determiner 75 a determines whether aleft of the mark “@” is a domain name, and a right of the mark “@” is anemail server, and if so, determines that the terminal identificationinformation is an email address.

In this embodiment, the terminal identification not only includes thecase of a terminal ID, IP address, or email address, but also includesthe case of a user ID identifying a user operating the communicationterminal, or a user name of such user operating the communicationterminal.

Further, in this embodiment, the communication application A1 isactivated, for example, when the communication terminal 70 a is turnedon.

The selector 76 a, may be implemented by the instructions of the CPU 701according to the communication application A1 of FIG. 6B, selectscommunication application to be activated based on a type of theterminal identification information that has been determined by thedeterminer 75 a. In case the terminal identification information is aterminal IP address, the selector 76 a selects the communicationapplication A1. In case the terminal identification information is aterminal ID, the selector 76 a selects the communication application A2.Assuming that the communication application A3 is additionallyinstalled, and in case the terminal identification information is anemail address, the selector 76 a selects the communication applicationA3.

The activator 77 a, which may be implemented by the instructions of theCPU 701 according to the communication application A1 of FIG. 6B,activates the communication application selected by the selector 76 a.When the selector 76 a selects the communication application A1, sincethe communication application A1 has been activated, the activator 77 adoes not have to activate the communication application A1 .

The obtainer/provider 78 a, which may be implemented by the instructionsof the CPU 701, the near-distance communication circuit 719 with theantenna 719 a, illustrated in FIG. 4, communicates with the counterpartcommunication terminal to transmit (provide) data or receive (obtain)data to or from the counterpart communication terminal.

The obtainer/provider 78 a, which may be implemented by the instructionsof the CPU 701, the near-distance communication circuit 719 with theantenna 719 a, illustrated in FIG. 4, communicates with the counterpartcommunication terminal to transmit (provide) data or receive (obtain)data to or from the counterpart communication terminal.

The memory control 79 a, which is implemented by the instructions of theCPU 701 and the SSD 704 illustrated in FIG. 4, or by the instructions ofthe CPU 701, performs processing to store various types of data in thememory 7000 or the recording medium 7100 or to read various types ofdata stored in the memory 7000 or the recording medium 7100. Further,every time image data and audio data are received in performingcommunication with a counterpart terminal, the memory 7000 a overwritesthe image data and audio data. The display 753 displays an image basedon image data before being overwritten, and the speaker 765 outputsaudio based on audio data before being overwritten.

<Functional Configuration of Mobile Terminal>

Since the mobile terminal 90 a and the mobile terminal 90 d aresubstantially similar in functional configuration, the functionalconfiguration of the mobile terminal 90 a is described as an examplewhile omitting explanation of the mobile terminal 90 d.

The mobile terminal 90 a includes a transmitter/receiver 91 a, anacceptor 92 a, a communication control 93 a, a display control 94 a, adeterminer 95 a, an obtainer/provider 98 a, and a memory control 99 a.These units are functions that are implemented by or that are caused tofunction by operating any of the hardware elements illustrated in FIG. 5in cooperation with the instructions of the CPU 901 according to thecommunication control program expanded from the EEPROM 904 to the RAM903. The communication terminal 90 a further includes a memory 9000 aconfigured by the RAM 903 illustrated in FIG. 5, and the EEPROM 704illustrated in FIG. 5. The communication terminal 90 a may be providedwith a recording medium 9100 a that is removable, which may beimplemented by the medium 907 of FIG. 5.

(Functional Configuration of Mobile Terminal)

Next, a functional configuration of the mobile terminal 90 a isdescribed in detail. The transmitter/receiver 91 a, which may beimplemented by the instructions of the CPU 901, and the near-distancecommunication circuit 911 with the antenna 911 a, illustrated in FIG. 5,transmits or receives various data (or information) to or from the otherterminal, apparatus, or system through a mobile communication network.

The acceptor 92 a, which is implemented by the instructions of the CPU901 illustrated in FIG. 5 and by the touch panel 921 illustrated in FIG.5, accepts various inputs from the user.

The communication control 93 a is implemented by the instructions of theCPU 901 in cooperation with any desired device relating to input oroutput of content data. In one example, the communication control 93 a,implemented by the instructions of the CPU 901 in cooperation with theimaging element I/F 913, applies image processing to an image capturedby the camera 912. In another example, the communication control 93 a isimplemented by the instructions of the CPU 901 in cooperation with theaudio input/output I/F 916. After the audio of the user is converted toan audio signal by the microphone 914, the communication control 93 aprocesses audio data based on this audio signal. In another example, thecommunication control 93 a, implemented by the instructions of the CPU901 and the audio input/output I/F 916, outputs the audio signalaccording to the audio data to the speaker 915, and the speaker 915outputs audio.

The display control 94 a, which may be implemented by the instructionsof the CPU 901, controls display of an image based on the image datathrough the display 917.

The determiner 95 a, which may be implemented by the instructions of theCPU 901 illustrated in FIG. 5, outputs a determination result.

The obtainer/provider 98 a, which may be implemented by the instructionsof the CPU 901, and the near-distance communication circuit 919 with theantenna 919 a, illustrated in FIG. 5, communicates with the counterpartcommunication terminal to transmit (provide) data or receive (obtain)data to or from the counterpart communication terminal.

The memory control 99 a, which may be implemented by the instructions ofthe CPU 901 and the EEPROM 904, illustrated in FIG. 5, performsprocessing to store various types of data in the memory 9000 a or readvarious types of data stored in the memory 9000 a.

(Data Structure of Near-distance Communication Circuit)

FIG. 12 illustrates a data structure of the near-distance communicationcircuit 919 of the mobile terminal 90. The near-distance communicationcircuit 919 has a data structure as illustrated in FIG. 12. With thisdata structure, the near-distance communication circuit 919 manages databy block number. For instance, a storage area with the block No. 1stores an identifier of the near-distance communication circuit 919, anda storage area with the block No. 2 stores a user name of the mobileterminal 90.

The storage areas with the block Nos. 3 to 5 each store the terminalidentification information of the communication terminal 10 or 70, whichis obtained by the mobile terminal 90 by near-distance communication.The storage areas with the block Nos. 3, 4, and 5 respectively store theIP address, the terminal ID, and the email address. The storage areaswith the block Nos. 6 to 8 each store the terminal identificationinformation of the communication terminal 10 or 70, which receives theterminal identification information that is transmitted from the mobileterminal 90 via the mobile communication network. In FIG. 12, fourdigits indicate a simplified expression of IP address in InternetProtocol version 4 (IPv4). For simplicity, the IP address is expressedin IPv4, but the IP address may be expressed in IPv6 instead.

<Operation>

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 13 to 21, operation of the communicationsystem 1 is described according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a case in which the user X (Kato), who travels fromsite D to site A, calls the user Y (James) at the site D to startvideoconference. Before departing site D for site A, the user X movesthe mobile terminal 90 a of the user X close to either the communicationterminal 10 or 70 d, to cause the mobile terminal 90 a to obtain theterminal identification information of the communication terminal 10 or70 d through near-distance wireless communication. At site A, the user Xmoves the mobile terminal 90 a, which has the terminal identificationinformation of the communication terminal 10 or 70 d stored, close tothe communication terminal 70 a. Through near-distance wirelesscommunication, the mobile terminal 90 a transmits the terminalidentification information of the communication terminal 10 or 70 d tothe communication terminal 70 a. Depending on a type of terminalidentification information that is obtained, the communication terminal70 a selects to communicate with the communication terminal 70 d via thefirst communication network 2, or with the communication terminal 10 viathe second communication network 4. Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14,operation of obtaining terminal identification information identifyingthe communication terminal 70 d from the communication terminal 70 d,performed by the mobile terminal 90 a, is described according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a data sequence diagram illustrating operation of providingthe terminal identification information. FIG. 14 is a screen for displayin providing the terminal identification information. In this example,the IP address is used as the terminal identification information, bythe communication terminal 70 d according to the communicationapplication A1.

As the user X at site D operates the communication terminal 70 d withthe electronic pen 754 or the user's hand H, the acceptor 72 d of thecommunication terminal 70 d accepts an instruction for displaying aterminal identification information providing screen (S21). The displaycontrol 74 d causes the display 753 to display the providing screen asillustrated in FIG. 14 (S22).

The determiner 75 d determines whether the mobile terminal 90 a isbrought closer to the communication terminal 70 d (S23). The followingassumes the case in which the user X brings the mobile terminal 90 aclose to the communication terminal 70 d such that the mobile terminal90 a is detected.

The memory control 79 d of the communication terminal 70 d reads out theterminal identification information of the communication terminal 70 dfrom the memory 7000 d (S24).

The obtainer/provider 78 d of the communication terminal 70 d transmitsa recording request for requesting to record the terminal identificationinformation of the communication terminal 70 d, to the mobile terminal90 a via near-distance wireless communication (S25). The recordingrequest includes the terminal identification information of thecommunication terminal 70 d, and recording area information indicatingan area to store the terminal identification information at the mobileterminal 90 a. The obtainer/provider 98 a of the mobile terminal 90 areceives the recording request. More specifically, the obtainer/provider98 a obtains the terminal identification information and the recordedarea information. The memory control 99 a stores the terminalidentification information in the memory 9000 a, as indicated by therecorded area information (S27). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12,the IP address of the communication terminal 70 d, which is an exampleof the terminal identification information, is stored in a storage areaidentified with the block No. 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the user X at site D moves to site A. The userX prepares to start communication with the user Y at site D.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, operation of obtaining terminalidentification information for identifying the communication terminal 70d from the mobile terminal 90 a, by the communication terminal 70 a, isdescribed according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15is a data sequence diagram illustrating operation of obtaining theterminal identification information. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustratingoperation of identifying a destination.

In response to a request for activating the communication applicationA1, as instructed by the user X at site A, the acceptor 72 a of thecommunication terminal 70 a activates the communication application A1(S41). The determiner 75 a of the communication terminal 70 a determineswhether any device is detected near the communication terminal 70 a(S42). The following assumes the case in which the user X brings themobile terminal 90 a close to the communication terminal 70 a such thatthe mobile terminal 90 a is detected.

The obtainer/provider 78 a of the communication terminal 70 a transmitsa request for reading the terminal identification information to themobile terminal 90 a via near-distance wireless communication (S43). Thememory control 99 a of the mobile terminal 90 a reads out the terminalidentification information (in this example, the IP address) of thecommunication terminal 70 d from the memory 9000 a.

Next, the obtainer/provider 98 a of the mobile terminal 90 a transmitsthe terminal identification information of the communication terminal 70d, which is read, to the communication terminal 70 a via near-distancewireless communication (S45). The obtainer/provider 78 a of thecommunication terminal 70 a receives the terminal identificationinformation of the communication terminal 70 d. The memory control 79 astores the terminal identification information in the memory 7000 a(S46).

The communication terminal 70 a identifies a destination using theterminal identification information (IP address) that is received at S45(S47). Referring to FIG. 16, S47 of identifying the destination isdescribed.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the determiner 75 a of the communicationterminal 70 a determines whether the received terminal identificationinformation is an IP address (S47-1). In case the determinationindicates that the terminal identification information is a terminal IPaddress (“YES” at S47-1), the selector 76 a selects the communicationapplication A1 for use (S47-2). The operation proceeds to S64 of FIG.17.

In case the determination indicates that the terminal identificationinformation is not a terminal IP address (“NO” at S47-1), the selector76 a selects the communication application A2 for use (S47-3). Theactivator 77 a activates the communication application A2 for use(S47-4). The operation proceeds to S101 of FIG. 19A.

In this disclosure, the determiner 75 a determines that the receivedterminal identification information is the IP address, such that thecommunication application A1 is selected to proceed to S64.

When there is an additional communication application that can beactivated, and in case S47-1 is “NO”, the determiner 75 a furtherdetermines whether the received terminal identification information is aterminal ID. In case the determination indicates that the terminalidentification information is a terminal ID, the selector 76 a selectsthe communication application A2, and the activator 77 a activates thecommunication application A2. In case the determination indicates thatthe terminal identification information is not a terminal ID, theselector 76 may select, for example, the communication application A3that uses an email address as the terminal identification information.The activator 77 a then activates the communication application A3. Incase there are more than three applications available for use, thedeterminer 75 a determines in a substantially similar manner asdescribed above referring to S47-1, until it is capable of determining aspecific type of terminal identification information corresponding tocommunication application to be used.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the following describes the case where, atS47-2, the determiner 75 a determines to start communication using thecommunication application A1. FIG. 17 is a data sequence diagramillustrating operation of establishing a communication session betweenthe communication terminals 70 a and 70 d, each of which is theelectronic whiteboard. FIG. 18 is an example screen for inputtingauthentication information.

The user X at site A calls the user Y at site D, and asks authenticationinformation such as a pass code issued by the communication terminal 70d when the communication terminal 70 d operates as a server for managingcommunication. In response to an instruction from the user Y at site D,the acceptor 72 d of the communication terminal 70 d activates thecommunication application A1, as communication application for thecommunication terminal 70 d operating as the server (S61). As thecommunication terminal 70 d operates as the server, the communicationterminal 70 a operates as a client. That is, the communication terminal70 may operate as the server in some cases.

At the communication terminal 70 d as the server, thetransmitter/receiver 71 a generates authentication information (S62). Inthis embodiment, the pass code such as a sequence of characters ornumerals like “1234” is generated as the authentication information. Thedisplay control 74 d causes the display 753 of the communicationterminal 70 d to display the generated authentication information (S63).The user Y at site D answers the user X at site A with theauthentication information, which is displayed at the communicationterminal 70 d.

At site A, after S47-2 of FIG. 16, the display control 74 a of thecommunication terminal 70 a automatically displays an input screen forauthentication information on the display 753, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 18 (S64). The user X, who now knows theauthentication information, inputs the pass code with such as theelectronic pen 754 on the input screen, and presses the “SEND” key. Theacceptor 72 a of the communication terminal 70 a receives the input ofthe authentication information (S65). If pressing of the “CANCEL” key isdetected, the operation ends in error without performing S66.

Next, the communication terminal 70 a requests to start communicationwith the communication terminal 70 d. Specifically, thetransmitter/receiver 71 a obtains the terminal identificationinformation (IP address) that is stored in the memory at S46, andtransmits a communication start request to the communication terminal 70d through the first communication network 2 (S66). The communicationstart request includes an IP address of the communication terminal 70 a,and the authentication information that is input at S65. Thetransmitter/receiver 71 d of the communication terminal 70 d receivesthe communication start request.

The determiner 75 d of the communication terminal 70 d compares betweenthe authentication information generated at S62 (first authenticationinformation) and the authentication information received at S66 (secondauthentication information), to authenticate the communication terminal70 a (S67). The transmitter/receiver 71 d of the communication terminal70 d transmits an authentication result to the communication terminal 70a. The communication terminal 70 a receives the authentication result atthe transmitter/receiver 71 a.

In case the authentication result indicates that the communicationterminal 70 a requesting to start communication is a legitimate entity,a communication session (first communication session) is establishedbetween the transmitter/receiver 71 a of the communication terminal 70 aand the transmitter/receiver 71 d of the communication terminal 70 d. Incase the authentication result indicates that the communication terminal70 a is not the legitimate entity, the communication session is notestablished.

As described above, through the communication session establishedbetween the communication terminal 70 a and the communication terminal70 d, images can be shared between the sites A and D. More specifically,the image drawn on the display 753 by the user X with the pen 754 at thecommunication terminal 70 a, is transmitted to the communicationterminal 70 d as coordinate data for display onto the display 753 of thecommunication terminal 70 d. Similarly, the image drawn on the display753 by the user Y with the pen 754 at the communication terminal 70 d,is transmitted to the communication terminal 70 a as coordinate data fordisplay onto the display 753 of the communication terminal 70 a.Further, since the communication terminals 70 a and 70 d each operate asa videoconference terminal, the user X and the user Y can freelycommunicate with each other, for example, by referring to the imagesthat are drawn at both sides.

Now, as described above referring to FIG. 7, the case where the user X,who has obtained the terminal identification information of thecommunication terminal 10 as the videoconference terminal, travels tosite A is described. In such case, referring to FIG. 12, thenear-distance communication circuit 919 of the mobile terminal 90 astores the terminal ID of the communication terminal 10, in the storagearea with the block No. 4. Referring back to FIG. 16, since thedetermination of S47-1 is “NO”, the operation proceeds to S47-3 andS47-4, and further proceeds to S101 of FIG. 19A.

Referring to FIGS. 19A and 19B (FIGS. 19) to 21, operation of preparingfor communication between the communication terminal 70 a as theelectronic whiteboard and the communication terminal 10 as thevideoconference terminal is described according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 19 is a data sequence diagram illustratingoperation of preparing for communication between the communicationterminal 70 a and the communication terminal 10. FIG. 20 is an examplescreen of a contact list for display at the communication terminal 70 a.FIG. 21 is a data sequence diagram illustrating operation ofestablishing a communication session between the communication terminal70 a as the electronic whiteboard and the communication terminal 10 asthe videoconference terminal.

After S47-4 of FIG. 16, the transmitter/receiver 71 a of thecommunication terminal 70 a of the communication terminal 70 aautomatically transmits login request information indicating a loginrequest to the communication management system 50 via the secondcommunication network 4 (S101). The login request information includes aterminal ID for identifying the communication terminal 70 a, which is alocal terminal serving as a starting terminal, and a password. Theterminal ID and the password are data that have been read via the memorycontrol 79 a from the memory 7000 a and sent to the transmitter/receiver71 a.

Next, the memory control 59 of the management system 50 performsterminal authentication by searching the authentication management tableof FIG. 9 using the terminal ID and the password included in the loginrequest information received via the data transmitter/receiver 51 assearch keys, and determining whether the same terminal ID and the samepassword are managed in the authentication management table of FIG. 9(S102). In the case where the memory control 59 determines that thelogin request is a login request received from the authenticatedterminal since the same terminal ID and the same password are managed,the memory control 59 stores, in a record for the terminal ID receivedat S101 in the terminal management table of FIG. 10, the operating state(Online (communication OK), and the date/time received at which theabove-described login request information is received (S103). Forexample, if the communication terminal 70 a has the terminal ID “01 aa”,the memory control 59 stores the operating state “Online (CommunicationOK)” and the date/time received “4.10.2015.13:40” in association withthe terminal ID “01 aa” in the terminal management table illustrated inFIG. 10. Further, in this example, the communication terminal 70 a maytransmit the IP address of the communication terminal 70 a to themanagement system 50 at S101. Alternatively, the terminal IP address maybe previously registered in the terminal management table in associationwith the terminal ID.

The transmitter/receiver 51 of the management system 50 transmitsauthentication result information indicating an authentication resultobtained by the memory control 59 to the starting terminal (terminal 70a) which has sent the above-mentioned login request, via the secondcommunication network 4 (S104). In the following, the case in which ithas been determined by the memory control 59 that the communicationterminal 70 a is a terminal that has a legitimate use authority will bedescribed as follows.

As the communication terminal 70 a, which is the starting terminal,receives the authentication result information indicating that thecommunication terminal 70 a is an authenticated terminal at thetransmitter/receiver 71, the transmitter/receiver 71 of thecommunication terminal 70 a transmits contact list request informationthat requests for contact list to the management system 50 through thecommunication network 2 (S105). The transmitter/receiver 51 of themanagement system 50 receives the contact list request information.

The memory control 59 of the management system 50 searches the contactlist management table (FIG. 11) using the terminal ID “01 aa” of thestarting terminal 70 a which has sent the login request as a search key,to extract the terminal ID of a candidate counterpart terminal that cancommunicate with the starting terminal 70 a. The memory control 59 ofthe management system 50 further reads out the terminal name associatedwith each one of the extracted terminal IDs from the terminal managementtable (FIG. 10) (S106). In this example, at least the terminal ID andthe terminal name of the terminal, for each one of one or more candidatecounterpart terminals for the starting terminal 70 a with the terminalID “01 aa”, are extracted.

The memory control 59 of the communication management system 50 readscontact list frame data, and icon data reflecting the operating state ofeach candidate counterpart terminal that is read, from the memory 5000(S107). The transmitter/receiver 51 further transmits the contact listinformation to the starting terminal 70 a (S108 in FIG. 19B). Thecontact list information includes the contact list frame data, and theicon data, the terminal ID, and the terminal name of each candidatecounterpart terminal (10 or 70). The starting terminal 79 a, whichreceives the contact list information at the transmitter/receiver 71 a,stores the received contact list information in the memory 7000 a viathe memory control 79 a (S109).

As described above, in this embodiment, instead of managing contact listinformation at each communication terminal, the management system 50centrally manages contact list information for all of the terminals 10and 70. In this way, even when a communication terminal is newly addedor the existing communication terminal is replaced with a different typeof communication terminal, or even when contact list frame is changed,the communication management system 50 can centrally reflect such changewithout requiring each communication terminal to reflect such change.

The memory control 59 of the management system 50 searches the terminalmanagement table (FIG. 10) using the extracted terminal IDs of thecandidate counterpart terminals, as search keys, to obtain the operatingstates of the terminals (S110).

Next, the transmitter/receiver 51 of the management system 50 transmitscounterpart terminal state information including the terminal IDsserving as the search keys used at S106 and the operating states of thecounterpart terminals corresponding to these terminal IDs to thestarting terminal 70 a via the second communication network 4 (S111).

The memory control 79 a of the starting terminal 70 a stores theterminal state information, which may be received from the managementsystem 50 sequentially or at once, in the memory 7000 a (S112). Based onthe terminal state information received for each candidate counterpartterminal, the starting terminal 70 a is able to know the currentoperating state of each candidate counterpart terminal such as theoperating state of the communication terminal 10.

Based on the contact list information and the terminal state informationstored in the memory 7000 a, the display control 74 aof the startingterminal 70 a generates a contact list that reflects the currentoperating state of each candidate counterpart terminal. The displaycontrol 74 a further displays the contact list on the display 753 ofFIG. 4, as illustrated in FIG. (S113). In FIG. 20, the icons eachreflecting the operating state of the corresponding terminal aredisplayed at left. More specifically, the icons in FIG. 20 indicate theoperating states of “online (communication OK)”, “offline”, “online(communication OK)”, and “online (communicating)”, from the top to thebottom.

The memory control 59 of the management system 50 further searches thecontact list management table of FIG. 11 using the terminal ID “01 aa”of the starting terminal 70 a which has sent the login request as asearch key, to extract the terminal ID of another starting terminal thatregisters the terminal ID “01 aa” of the starting terminal 70 a as acandidate counterpart terminal (S114). In the contact list managementtable illustrated in FIG. 11, the terminal IDs of other startingterminals that are extracted are “01 ab”, “01 ac”, and “01 da”, forexample.

Next, the memory control 59 of the management system 50 searches thecontact list management table (FIG. 10) using the terminal ID of thestarting terminal 70 a which has sent the login request as a search key,and obtains the operating state of the starting terminal 70 a (S115).

The transmitter/receiver 51 transmits counterpart terminal stateinformation including the terminal ID “01 aa” and the operating state“Online (Communication OK)” of the starting terminal 70 a, obtained atS115, to terminals (such as the terminal 10) whose operating states are“Online (Communication OK)” in the terminal management table (FIG. 10),among the terminals having the terminal IDs extracted at S115 (S116).When transmitting the counterpart terminal state information to theterminals such as the terminal 10, the transmitter/receiver 51 refers tothe IP addresses of the terminals, which are managed in the terminalmanagement table illustrated in FIG. 10, using the terminal IDs.Accordingly, the terminal ID “01 aa” and the operating state “online” ofthe starting terminal (terminal 70 a) which has sent the login requestcan be transmitted to other counterpart terminals that can communicatewith the starting terminal (terminal 70 a). The candidate counterpartterminal (such as the terminal 10) displays the operating state of eachone of the candidate counterpart terminals, as illustrated in FIG. 19(S117).

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 21, in this embodiment, the managementsystem 50 transmits a communication start request to the communicationmanagement system 50. Specifically, the transmitter/receiver 71 atransmits a communication start request to the communication managementsystem 50 through the second communication network 4 (S121). Thecommunication start request includes the terminal ID “01 aa” of thestarting terminal 70 a, and the terminal ID “01 da” of the counterpartterminal 10. The transmitter/receiver 51 of the management system 50receives the communication start request.

On the basis of the terminal ID “01 aa” of the starting terminal 70 aand the terminal ID (“01 da”) of the counterpart terminal 10, which areincluded in the communication start request, the memory control 59 ofthe communication management system 50 changes the operating state fieldof each of records including the above-mentioned terminal IDs “01 aa”and “01 da” to “communicating” in the terminal management table (FIG.10) (S122). In this state, although the starting terminal 70 a and thecounterpart terminal 10 have not started communicating, these terminalsenter a communicating state, and, if another terminal 10 or 70 tries tocommunicate with the starting terminal 70 a or the counterpart terminal10, a notification sound or display that indicates that the terminal iscommunicating is output.

Next, the memory control 59 of the communication management system 50searches the terminal management table (FIG. 10) using the terminal ID“01 aa” of the starting terminal 70 a and the terminal ID “01 da” of thecounterpart terminal 10, received at S121, as search keys, to readcorresponding IP addresses (S123).

The transmitter/receiver 51 of the management system 50 transmits thecommunication start request to the IP address of the counterpartterminal 10, which is read at S123 (S124). The communication startrequest includes the terminal IDs “01 aa” and “01 da”, as received atS121. The transmitter/receiver 11 of the counterpart terminal 10receives the communication start request.

The transmitter/receiver 11 of the counterpart terminal 10 transmits aresponse to the communication start request, to the communicationmanagement system 50 (S125). The transmitter/receiver 51 of themanagement system 50 receives the response to the communication startrequest. The communication start request indicates whether to accept orreject communication. The example case of accepting the communicationstart request is described.

The transmitter/receiver 51 of the management system 50 transmits arelay start request indicating a request for starting relaying to therelay device 30 (S126). The relay start request includes the IPaddresses of the starting terminal 70 a and the counterpart terminal 10read at S123. The transmitter/receiver 31 of the relay device 30receives the relay start request.

The transmitter/receiver 51 of the management system 50 transmits theresponse to the communication start request, which is received at S 125,to the starting terminal 70 a (S127). As described above, in thisexample, the transmitter/receiver 71 a of the starting terminal 70 areceives the response accepting the communication start request.

As described above, the starting terminal 70 a and the counterpartterminal 10 establish an image data/audio data communication session viathe relay device 30 (S128-1, 2) to start videoconference.

According to at least one embodiment described above, the user X, whoobtains the terminal identification information of the communicationterminal at site D using the mobile terminal 90 a, provides suchterminal identification information to the communication terminal 70 aat site A. Based on a type of the provided terminal identificationinformation, the communication terminal 70 a determines whether to usecommunication application A1 or A2 for communication with thecommunication terminal at site D. In case the communication applicationA2 is selected, the communication terminal 70 a starts communicationwith the communication terminal 70 d at site D through the firstcommunication network 2 such as the Intranet. In case the communicationapplication A1 is selected, the communication terminal 70 a startscommunication with the communication terminal 10 at site D through thesecond communication network 4 such as the Internet.

This greatly reduces time required for preparing to start communicationamong two or more communication terminals (such as between thecommunication terminals 70 a and 70 d, or the communication terminals 70a and 10). For instance, when starting communication with a counterpartcommunication terminal, using a communication terminal, a user at thecommunication terminal may need to select a communication applicationbeing used by the counterpart communication terminal for activation, aswell as, inputting destination information such as an IP address or aterminal ID of the counterpart communication terminal. As describedabove, in one or more embodiments, the user only needs to bring a mobileterminal closer to the communication terminal to be operated by the userin communication. The communication terminal, which obtains counterpartterminal identification information, automatically selects acommunication application to be used by the counterpart communicationterminal, activates if not such communication application has not beenactivated, identifies the counterpart communication terminal using theselected communication application using the obtained counterpartterminal identification information, and transmits a communication startrequest to the counterpart communication terminal. Accordingly, the userdoes not have to make any selection of communication application, orinput destination information, before starting communication, thusimproving operability for the user.

The communication terminal (electronic whiteboard) 70 a and thecommunication terminal (electronic whiteboard) 70 d are communicablethrough a closed communication network 2 such as the Intranet,configuring the on-premises system. This improves security, such that anexchange of IP address can be safely achieved. The communicationterminal (electronic whiteboard) 70 a and the communication terminal(videoconference terminal) 10 are communicable through an opencommunication network 4 such as the Internet. Although this network isless secure at least compared to the communication network 2, theterminal identification information is exchanged in the form of aterminal ID, while managing the IP address at the communicationmanagement system 50. This system configuration can thus improvesecurity.

In the above-described embodiment, the communication terminal (10, 70)provides the terminal identification information to the mobile terminal90 by near-distance wireless communication, however, the communicationterminal may provide using any other communication network such as by aUSB cable.

In addition, although the case of a videoconference terminal or anelectronic whiteboard has been described as an example of acommunication terminal in the above-described embodiment, the embodimentis not limited to this case, and the communication system 1 may be aphone system such as an IP phone system or an Internet phone system, acar navigation terminal, or a monitoring camera. In alternative to thevideoconference terminal and the electronic whiteboard, any other typeof office equipment may be used such as a printer, facsimile,multifunctional peripheral (MFP), and projector. The communicationterminal may be implemented as medical equipment, such as an endoscope,a Computed Tomography (CT) scan, and radiotherapy equipment, oragricultural equipment such as a cultivator.

Further, in alternative to the smart phone, any other mobile terminalmay be used, such as a portable phone, digital camera, portable gamemachine, IC card, or wearable computer. A wearable computer includes awatch and a head-mounted display.

In addition, although image data and audio data are described asexamples of content data in the above-described embodiment, the contentdata is not limited to these items of data, and the content data may betouch data. In this case, a feeling obtained by a user's contact at oneterminal side is transmitted to the other terminal side. Further, thecontent data may be smell data. In this case, a smell at one terminalside is transmitted to the other terminal side. Based on the receiveddata of smell, a smell generator, which may be incorporated in orconnected to the other terminal, may generate a smell based on suchreceived data. The content data may be at least one of image data, audiodata, touch data, and smell data.

Although the case in which a videoconference is held by thecommunication system 1 has been described in the above-describedembodiment, the embodiment is not limited to this case. Thecommunication system 1 may be used in meetings, general conversationbetween family members or friends, or one-way presentation ofinformation.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording request or the readingrequest is transmitted or received by near-distance wirelesscommunication. Alternatively, such request may be transmitted orreceived by ultrasonic communication. In alternative to transmitting therecording request, the communication terminal 10 or 70 may display animage encoded with the terminal ID (for example, in the form of abi-dimensional bar code or a QR code). The mobile terminal 90 a or 90 dmay capture the image with the camera to obtain the terminal ID of thecommunication terminal 10 or 70, and store the obtained the terminal IDin its memory. In alternative to transmitting the reading request, thecommunication terminal 10 or 70 may display an image encoded with theterminal ID (for example, in the form of a bi-dimensional bar code or aQR code). The mobile terminal 90 a or 90 d may capture the image withthe camera to obtain the terminal ID of the communication terminal 10 or70.

Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in lightof the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within thescope of the appended claims, the disclosure of the present inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Forexample, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodimentsmay be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other withinthe scope of this disclosure and appended claims.

Each of the functions of the described embodiments may be implemented byone or more processing circuits or circuitry. Processing circuitryincludes a programmed processor, as a processor includes circuitry. Aprocessing circuit also includes devices such as an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), and conventional circuit componentsarranged to perform the recited functions.

In one example embodiment, the present invention may reside in anon-transitory recording medium which, when executed by one or moreprocessors, configured to perform a method including: receiving, from amobile terminal, counterpart terminal identification information foridentifying a counterpart communication terminal that the communicationterminal is to start communication, the mobile terminal being a mobileterminal that has obtained the counterpart terminal identificationinformation from the counterpart communication terminal; determining acommunication application to be used by the counterpart communicationterminal in communication with the communication terminal, based on thereceived counterpart terminal identification information; identifying,as the counterpart communication terminal, 1) a first counterpartcommunication terminal that uses a first communication application whenthe determined communication application is the first communicationapplication, and 2) a second counterpart communication terminal thatuses a second communication application when the determinedcommunication application is the second communication application; andtransmitting a communication start request to the identified counterpartcommunication terminal that uses the determined communicationapplication, to start communication with the identified counterpartcommunication terminal through the determined communication application.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A communication terminal configured tocommunicate with a counterpart communication terminal, the communicationterminal comprising: a receiver to receive, from a mobile terminal,counterpart terminal identification information for identifying acounterpart communication terminal that the communication terminal is tostart communication, the mobile terminal being a mobile terminal thathas obtained the counterpart terminal identification information fromthe counterpart communication terminal; circuitry to determine acommunication application to be used by the counterpart communicationterminal in communication with the communication terminal, based on thereceived counterpart terminal identification information, wherein, whenthe determined communication application is a first communicationapplication, the circuitry identifies, as the counterpart communicationterminal, a first counterpart communication terminal that uses the firstcommunication application, and when the determined communicationapplication is a second communication application, the circuitryidentifies, as the counterpart communication terminal, a secondcounterpart communication terminal that uses the second communicationapplication; and a transmitter to transmit a communication start requestto the identified counterpart communication terminal that uses thedetermined communication application, to start communication with theidentified counterpart communication terminal through the determinedcommunication application.
 2. The communication terminal of claim 1,further comprising: a memory to store a plurality of communicationapplications that are differ in a format of counterpart communicationterminal identification information to be used, the plurality of typesof communication application including at least the first communicationapplication and the second communication application.
 3. Thecommunication terminal of claim 1, wherein, when the determinedcommunication application is the first communication application, thetransmitter transmits the communication start request to the firstcounterpart communication terminal through a first communicationnetwork, and when the determined communication application is the secondcommunication application, the transmitter transmits the communicationstart request to the second counterpart communication terminal through asecond communication network.
 4. The communication terminal of claim 3,wherein the first communication network is an intranet, and the secondcommunication network is the Internet.
 5. The communication terminal ofclaim 4, wherein the circuitry is further configured to determinewhether the received terminal identification information is a terminalidentification, select the second communication application based ondetermination indicating that the received terminal identificationinformation is the terminal identification, and control the transmitterto transmit the communication start request to a communicationmanagement system managing an IP address of at least the counterpartcommunication terminal, the communication start request including aterminal identification of the communication terminal and a terminalidentification of the second counterpart communication terminal.
 6. Thecommunication terminal of claim 4, wherein the circuitry is configuredto determine whether the received terminal identification information isan Internet Protocol (IP) address, select the first communicationapplication based on determination indicating that the received terminalidentification information is the IP address, and control thetransmitter to transmit the communication start request addressed to theIP address indicated by the received terminal identificationinformation, through the first communication network.
 7. Thecommunication terminal of claim 6, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to select the second communication application based ondetermination indicating that the received terminal identificationinformation is not the IP address, and control the transmitter totransmit the communication start request to a communication managementsystem managing an IP address of at least the counterpart communicationterminal, the communication start request including a terminalidentification information of the communication terminal and a terminalidentification information of the second counterpart communicationterminal.
 8. The communication terminal of claim 7, wherein the terminalidentification information of the second counterpart communicationterminal includes one of 1) a terminal identification that is uniquelyassigned to the second counterpart communication terminal, and 2) a useridentification for identifying a user operating the second counterpartcommunication terminal, and wherein the communication management systemobtains an IP address of the second counterpart communication terminalusing one of the terminal identification and the user identification,and transmits the communication start request addressed to the obtainedIP address.
 9. The communication terminal of claim 1, wherein, when thedetermined communication application is the first communicationapplication, the circuitry is further configured to display anauthentication information input screen that requests a user to inputauthentication information of the first counterpart communicationterminal, and transmit authentication information input by the user tothe first counterpart communication terminal, to request authenticationof the communication terminal by the first counterpart communicationterminal.
 10. The communication terminal of claim 1, wherein thereceiver is configured to receive the terminal identificationinformation for identifying the counterpart communication terminal fromthe mobile terminal by near-distance wireless communication.
 11. Thecommunication terminal of claim 10, wherein the near-distance wirelesscommunication is based on near-field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth.12. A communication system comprising: a communication terminalincluding circuitry; and a plurality of counterpart communicationterminals located at a site remote from a site where the communicationterminal is located, the plurality of counterpart communicationterminals including at least a first counterpart communication terminalbeing configured to use a first communication application and a secondcounterpart communication terminal being configured to use a secondcommunication application, the communication terminal including thecircuitry which is configured to: receive, from a mobile terminal,counterpart terminal identification information for identifying one ofthe plurality of counterpart communication terminals configured to startcommunication, the mobile terminal being a mobile terminal that hasobtained the counterpart terminal identification information from theone of the plurality of counterpart communication terminals; determine acommunication application to be used by the counterpart communicationterminal to start communication, based on the received counterpartterminal identification information, wherein, when the determinedcommunication application is the first communication application, thecircuitry identifies, as the counterpart communication terminal to startcommunication, the first counterpart communication terminal that usesthe first communication application, and when the determinedcommunication application is the second communication application, theprocessors identify, as the counterpart communication terminal to startcommunication, the second counterpart communication terminal that usesthe second communication application; and transmit a communication startrequest to the identified counterpart communication terminal that usesthe determined communication application, to start communication withthe identified counterpart communication terminal through the determinedcommunication application.
 13. A method, implemented by a communicationterminal, of communicating with a counterpart communication terminal,comprising: receiving, from a mobile terminal, counterpart terminalidentification information for identifying a counterpart communicationterminal that the communication terminal is to start communication, themobile terminal being a mobile terminal that has obtained thecounterpart terminal identification information from the counterpartcommunication terminal; determining a communication application to beused by the counterpart communication terminal in communication with thecommunication terminal, based on the received counterpart terminalidentification information; identifying, as the counterpartcommunication terminal, 1) a first counterpart communication terminalthat uses a first communication application when the determinedcommunication application is the first communication application, and 2)a second counterpart communication terminal that uses a secondcommunication application when the determined communication applicationis the second communication application; and transmitting acommunication start request to the identified counterpart communicationterminal that uses the determined communication application, to startcommunication with the identified counterpart communication terminalthrough the determined communication application.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising: storing, in a memory, a plurality ofcommunication applications that are different from each other in aformat of counterpart communication terminal identification informationto be used, the plurality of types of communication applicationincluding at least the first communication application and the secondcommunication application.
 15. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising: determining whether the received terminal identificationinformation is an Internet Protocol (IP) address; selecting the firstcommunication application based on determination indicating that thereceived terminal identification information is the IP address; andcontrolling to transmit the communication start request addressed to theIP address indicated by the received terminal identificationinformation, through a first communication network.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising: selecting the second communicationapplication based on determination indicating that the received terminalidentification information is not an IP address; and controlling totransmit the communication start request to a communication managementsystem managing an IP address of at least the counterpart communicationterminal, the communication start request including a terminalidentification of the communication terminal and a terminalidentification of the second counterpart communication terminal.